FFTA Speed Run Part I: The Cheetahs

[mapler90210]

i just started my own run of this game. i'm at 25 minutes after the first mission. is that any good? oh, and i'm using the original party only. not the best stats, but i don't know the game well enough to make use of the recruitment missions anyways.

[MoogleBoss]

I didn't write down how quickly I finished every mission, unfortunately.

You'll definitely need advanced classes though, Rockseal/Last Breath/Break are essential for normal battles.

[mapler90210]

yeah, i forgot about that. it's unfortunate that break doesn't really help after a while because of bosses and the slow speed of bangaa. how early are dash boots available? i know they appeared in the shops around scouring time in my normal file, hopelfully a bit earlier. if it's soon enough, i may replace the bishop, who doesn't get the snake staff until around then anyways, with a second assassin, giving both rocseal and dash boots.

[mapler90210]

sorry to be asking so much from you, but while i'm dumping my "original character only" idea, what are good stats to look for in assassins, fighters, gadgeteers, and jugglers?

oh, and do you know where i can find good map layouts? the sources i've checked either don't show anything good or have been removed from the site.

[MoogleBoss]

Astro Blue's Regional Setup FAQ is good to use for this. Depends on what weapons you want.

Dash Boots is second shop upgrade (fight 20 battles). You could try getting them at the very beginning if you think they'll speed up the rest of the game for you.

For hiring units, just keep saving a state every time you get a better character than the time before. You have astronomic chances of getting a character anywhere near perfection, so just try until you get sick of it and move on. What I did.

[mapler90210]

ah, so that's what it was called. i've been looking for it since i left that comment.

20 battles would probably be a waste of time without letting 10 or so recruits join to screw up my average level, which'll mess up the recruits i actually want >_>

unfortunately i'm using my DS and i only have one available file >_>. i just won't worry about stats. getting all the jobs i want will probably edge on my patience by itself.

[MoogleBoss]

If you have no facility of save states at your disposal, by all means don't even think about hiring a Gadgeteer. 50-75% of resets come from Pandora messing up.

[mapler90210]

i can just shut my game off and turn it back on, then. ii'm still deciding how i want to set the map up, though. i would like to get the cinqueda so i could snatch an ability or two instead of learning them, but it has such a low rate of success and i don't think the order in which the opponent loses abilities is random, so it could take several attempts to get a single useful ability. i would also lose the bonus excalibur gives to holy, too, though it wouldn't help at the end anyways.

[MoogleBoss]

If you want to give up Excalibur, you should think of a way to deal damage to Mateus. Cinquedea will probably deal a lot of damage if used at that point in the game though. Are you sure you can't organise the areas in a way that could get you both the weapons?

[mapler90210]

i probably could, but i'm not very familiar with the region create feature. i usually just plop things down in the first open place i see. as for damaging bosses, one thing i've consisdered is twister. 1/2 half to an area. i can't remember where i learned it, though. i'd have to wait until pretty much just before the final boss for it to be worth it anyway.

[MoogleBoss]

The Mechanics FAQ offers a good explanation as to how Treasure Hunt works. And you can look up the info on most valuable equipment in the guide dedicated to SCCs.

I'm sceptical to Blue Mage skills being beneficial in a speed run, even something like Night that would have use in any mission.

[mapler90210]

*remove this if it was already posted*

ah, thanks.

i see what you mean. anything that isn't picked up during the story would have to be picked up in a max of 2 battles. i'm pretty sure both night and twister can be learned in a "lost ring". they may also be learnable later in "royal ruins" along with matra magic (works wonders on tough melee units. battle queen perhaps?) and angel whisper. i'd need a fairy harp or some bad-ass manipulation for that last one. lv?-sflare during mateus too,

[LinkTetraWW]

Hey, I was using Pandora and Green Spring or whatever that Haste move is in missions! I think they are easier than lucking RockSeals, Beatdowns, ect...

[MoogleBoss]

If you use both in one battle, it's still a 25% chance that none of them hits the wrong team...

And you usually need both Pandora and Rockseal, because killing enemies before they wake up is impossible otherwise, when your level is so low.

[LAkalf]

i need one little help. I tried to do the LLBM (low level black magic)quest, but my my party is very weak, you know, no charm, no blackout... so, ¿what i do?

[MoogleBoss]

You're doing a low level challenge with all Black Mages? Honestly, that's not going to work because sooner or later your spells will start doing 1 damage and no more, even with Black Robes, Turbo MP and -aga spells.

[LAkalf]

hm thats true, so what have to do if i tried only black mages challenge?

[MoogleBoss]

Get rid of the low level rule. Should be very possible then (and not too hard either).

[LAkalf]

ok thanks

[Joulupuur0]

Do you have any tips for an Marche only run? =_=

[MoogleBoss]

Once Artemis Bow is available, learn Cupid and use it to master defensive Blue Magic. You'll be nearly invincible then. If you don't want to learn any magic, equip Damage to MP and use Hunter for long range attacks. Concentrate through Target Bow and you'll be fine.

[Joulupuur0]

Thanks, boss :D

[MAZZ0Murder]

I read something about Exdeath making a cameo in this game. Is that correct?

[MoogleBoss]

Exdeath? No, he's not present here.

[MAZZ0Murder]

Just rumors then. But I should try playing this game sometime

[MoogleBoss]

Cloud isn't in this game either. Just saying because this question seems to be asked a lot.

[MAZZ0Murder]

Really? I completely forgot that some people thought that Cloud was in this game XD

But I remember something like that being said before (after completing some side-quest) lol

[MoogleBoss]

Yeah, Cloud is in the original Tactics not Tactics Advance.

[kanbabrif]

I think MAZZOMurder means Exodus (aka Big Tree Thingy). His Japanese name in FFXII is Exdeath. Also, in V, you get to fight him in the form of a tree.

[OmegasMovie]

nice job ^^

[LaZodiac]

When I suggested that idea, I didn't think it would take off. I'm impressed with serendipity now.

I wish you good luck Boss. I sadly can't offer tips, because there is no FFTA speed run on Speed Demons Archive.

Also, ouch, you could of shaved afew seconds, maybe a minute, off your time is that slut had attacked. Lazy NPCs!

[WhiteEnvy13]

Nice a speed run will be interesting to watch. The music was amazing, I have to say...

[ElPonchoDelgado]

This is going to be a rather interesting set of videos, ones I'm looking forward to watching.

[ErichtheTormentor]

A FFTA Speed run? Weirdest idea ever.

I really can't wait to see more.

[MoogleBoss]

I'm also very interested in seeing how it goes. Still not sure if I'm going to kill Montblanc, for instance. After all, during my last challenge in which I only did mandatory missions, Montblanc barely did any damage to Totema bosses (high magic resistance) and did no more than 1 damage to the final boss. Then again, with Black Robe and any -aga spell he's very effective midgame but I do have a Nu Mou BM already.

[mapler90210]

well, i'm no expert, so i don't know if you should get rid of montblanc or not, but if you do, i recommend replacing him with a gadgeteer that has some good speed so he can cast chroma gem early in the match. since that makes the ememies end their turns immediately, that would help in several ways in a speed run.

[MoogleBoss]

Yeah, I've thought about this. Chroma Gem would be extremely beneficial (not just to halt the enemies but also to guarantee Beatdown connecting) and I can see myself risking to cast Red Spring as well.

I had the idea of a primarily Assassin party and a Gadgeteer but that would rely on lucky very much, not to mention that it would be extremely vulnerable to any boss or Totema enemy, but a Gadgeteer helping out the melee attackers is a good idea.

[ErichtheTormentor]

I see, this speed run will get really complicated.Chroma gem is definetly a good idea, I mean if it is inflicted on you just restart.Maybe more things will come to my mind as the speed run goes on, but right now the only things I can suggest are:Concentrate+Last breath.(Yeah, pretty obvious)And I can imagine using matra magic on a Illusionist could be intresting.

[MoogleBoss]

Concentrate + Last Breath/Rockseal sounds good. The quickest way to have a Viera with this combo is to hire an Assassin, have her master the ability and switch to Archer once Target Bow is available. But it's hard to get 300 AP in a speed run needed to master the skill, so I think it may be too late.

Matra Magic owns physical units, but mastering it is really tricky. The best way is to have a Blue Mage for the Jagd mission and hope it's used on you.

The best things require a lot of time.